CHRISTMAS TREE FARM

A little boy helps his grandfather on the family Christmas tree farm in this exploratory look at the way real Christmas trees are grown. In first-person narrative, the child describes their journey to the woods, cutting down trees with a chain saw and setting the display of trees up for business. As the narrative unfolds, some customers purchase the cut trees while others tramp through the woods to cut down their own. Following pages describe the growth cycle of the trees, with the entire family helping with planting and pruning. The story concludes with the family’s decorating of their own trees: an inside tree with traditional trimmings and an outdoor living tree decorated with food for the birds and wild animals. Weber’s illustrations in an appealing, primitive style were researched on a Christmas tree farm in New England, and she includes tips for taking care of a Christmas tree in the home within one of the illustrations. The little boy’s perky dog is included in each spread for a charming touch. An appendix includes Christmas tree legends and facts as well as a timeline. (Picture book. 4-8)